Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion

TLDR

There is a great demand for perceptual effort ratings to better understand human work, complementing behavioral and physiological measures across medicine, human factors, and sports; psychophysical ratio‑scaling methods are valid for general variation, while category methods are more useful for individual differences. The study presents ratio‑scaling and category methods, including the Borg Scale and a novel hybrid method that merges category and ratio properties. The authors discuss the strengths and limitations of these methods within theoretical‑psychophysical and psychophysiological frameworks.

Abstract

There is a great demand for perceptual effort ratings in order to better understand man at work. Such ratings are important complements to behavioral and physiological measurements of physical performance and work capacity. This is true for both theoretical analysis and application in medicine, human factors, and sports. Perceptual estimates, obtained by psychophysical ratio-scaling methods, are valid when describing general perceptual variation, but category methods are more useful in several applied situations when differences between individuals are described. A presentation is made of ratio-scaling methods, category methods, especially the Borg Scale for ratings of perceived exertion, and a new method that combines the category method with ratio properties. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods are discussed in both theoretical-psychophysical and psychophysiological frames of reference.